Latch for vacuum cleaner covers



2 9 c. 1.. BROWN, JR 2,477,635

LATCH FOR VACUUM CLEANER COVERS Filed Dec. 19, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

a BY alawi 5W [a atented Aug. 2, 1949 NITED STATES PATENT FICE to Electrolux Corporation,

Old Greenwich,

Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1945, Serial No. 635,959

2 @laims. (Cl. 292-37) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and is more particularly concerned with the cover and latching means for such cleaners.

It is one of the prime objects of the inventionto provide a cover and cover latching means for vacuum cleaners of novel and improved construction which will be simple and efficient in oper ation and which will lend itself to economic manufacture as well as one which is designed for a long life of utility with minimum liabilities to wear and dislocation of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover and latching assembly therefor, wherein the cover handle forms the latch actuating mechanism by and in which a single outward movement of such handle will act to both release the latch and remove the cover from its associated casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover and latching assembly whereby a simple camming action will provide for the tight securement of the cover in sealed relation to the vacuum cleaner casing.

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner embodyin one form of the present invention with the casing broken away in part.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the cover broken away to show the locking means.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the cover.

Fig. 4 is a detailed section taken on the line t-t of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken on the line of 55 of Fig. 2.

The present invention is shown by way of iilustration as a cover and latch assembly for a conventional tank type cleaner in which the cover acts not only as a closure for the dust compartment but also as a retaining and sealing means for an internal dust bag and includes a port for the admission of dust-laden air. It will be understood, however, that the cover and latchim, means are broadly applicable and may be readily modified for use as a closure and latching means generally.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of a cam member which forms a pivot for the latch actuating handle, which handle constitutes a manipulating handle for the cover as well as the actuating member for the latch.

The cam surfaces of the cam constitute the means for projecting and withdrawin the latching elements, the ends of which may also be formed with cam surfaces so as to readily engage their keepers and exert sealing pressure by the cover.

Referring to the drawings, I0 indicates a vacuum cleaner casing in which is mounted a motor II driving a multi-stage centrifugal fan I 2. Fan I2 is adapted to produce a flow of air in casing III from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1. In the left end of easing ID, a dust bag I3 is located and serves to separate the dust from the air before it enters fan I2. A removable front cover I4 secures dust bag I3 in casing Ill, as will be explained below, and permits access to remove dust bag I 3 to empty it. A flexible hose I5 is connected in an inlet opening in cover I4 and communicates with the interior of dust bag I3. A cleaning tool I6 is connected to the other end of hose I5 by means of a rigid tubular handle member I'I. When the area in the vicinity of the casing III has been cleaned, the easing II] is moved to a new place by a pull on the flexible hose I5. This pull is transmitted from the hose I5 through the front cover I4 to the casing II].

Dust bag I3 is secured to a ring I8 by means of binding thread I9. Ring I8 has an outwardly extending flange 20 which is covered with a rubber gasket 2|. Gasket 2| rests in a seat 22 provided in a ring 23 secured to casing I0. Front cover I4 is provided with a corresponding seat 24 formed in the inner face sheet thereof in which gasket 2I is received when cover I4 is secured to casing II'I. When cover I4 is locked to casing I0, gasket 2| is compressed between cover I4 and ring 23 and provides an air-tight seal for cover It.

Handle 25 is provided with a terminal hub 26 which is mounted on a transversely positioned horizontal pintle 21 which in turn is mounted between forwardly projecting ears 28 struck out from a plate 29 mounted on the inner face sheet 3l'l of the cover I4 thus providing for pivotal movement of the handle 25 in a vertical longitudinal plane.

The hub 26 of the handle 25 is provided with an arcuately shaped cam plate 3I which is pierced by a pair of spaced converging straight openings 32, the edges of which constitute cam surfaces which engage outwardly turned ends 33 of cover securing latch bars 34 which bars are mounted for limited rectilinear movement on the plate 29 from which the ears 28 are struck. Guiding and securing tabs 3411 which are also struck out from the plate 23 secure and guide the bars 34 for rectilinear movement in response to pivotal movement of the cam through manipulation of the handle 25.

The casing ill of the cleaner is provided on opposite sides with keeper members 35 which extend forwardly in a plane spaced from the sides of the casing and beyond the casing, their terminal ends being bent inwardly at 36 to form a keeper wall 31. A rubber bumper 38 is also provided to contact the cover and prevent marring when the cover is applied. With the cover in position as shown in Fig. 4, the outer ends of the latch bars 34 are engaged under the walls 31 to secure the cover in position, it being noted that the terminal ends of the bars are beveled as at 33 to provide a slight camming action to assist in securely holding the cover in sealing relation with the gasket 2|. A detent 40 is preferably provided in one of the cars 28 for frictionally engaging the hub 26 when the handle is moved to its full, opened or closed position.

In the operation of the device when it is desired to remove the cover, the handle 25 is grasped and moved about with the pintle 21 as its axis thus rotating the cam 23 whereby the slots 32 engage the ends 33 of the latch bars 34 to move the bars inwardly thus withdrawing their ends 39 from the engagement with the keepers 35 and permitting the cover to be removed. When the cover is to be replaced, it is positioned on the casing with the latch bars in registration with the keepers. The upward movement of the handle 25 will thereafter move the cam to project the ends of latch bars under the keeper edge to firmly secure the cover in position.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is not limited to the particular structural details herein set forth and numerous changes and modifications of the present invention may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A latching structure for a closure member comprising a plate secured to said member and extending transversely thereacross. a pair of spaced ears extending outwardly at right angles from said plate adJacent to the center thereof, a cam member pivotally mounted between said ears and having a cylindrical surface formed with a pair of diverging cam slots. guide tabs on said plate adjacent to opposite ends thereof, a pair of latch bars reciprocably mounted on said plate by' said guide tabs. an arm portion angularly formed from the inner end of each bar. each arm portion engaging one of said cam slots, and a handle connected to said cam member for rotating the latter to reciprocate said latch bars outwardly and inwardly into locking and unlocking sitions. respectively.

2. A latching structure for a closure member comprising a plate secured to said member and extending transversely" thereacross, a pair of spaced ears extending outwardly at right angles from said plate adjacent the center thereof, a. hub member pivoted between said ears and. adapted to move in a plane perpendicular to said plate and provided with a cylindrical rim portion, an arcuately shaped cam member carried by said rim portion and provided with a pair of diverging cam slots, guide tabs on said plate adjacent the ends thereof, a pair of latch bars reciprocably mounted on said plate by said guide tabs, an arm portion angularly formed from the inner end of each bar, each arm portion engaging one of said cam slots, and a handle connected to said hub member for rotating the armate cam member to reciprocate said latch bars outwardly and inwardly into locking and unlocking positions, respectively.

CHARLES L. BROWN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,873 Fraser Feb. 27, 1883 405,784 Livingstone June 25, 1889 1,427,253 Appleby Aug. 29, 1922 2,082,921 Vetorino June 8, 1937 2,088,665 Pinson Aug. 3, 1937 2,245,752 Brown, Jr June 17, 1941 

